JIANGSU | THE CLASSICAL GARDENS OF SUZHOU

#discoverchina The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are a collection of nine private scholar‑built gardens in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for exemplifying the pinnacle of Chinese garden art . Spanning from the 11th to the 19th centuries, they meticulously recreate natural landscapes in miniature—rockeries, ponds, winding corridors, pavilions, and plantings are arranged to evoke poetic scenes and philosophical reflections  . Renowned for their elegant aesthetics and refined design, these gardens have not only influenced imperial and private gardens throughout China but also come to represent the “most refined form” of classical Chinese landscape architecture .